Editor’s Table: John Henry Smith

Editor's Table John Henry Smith To the passing of John Henry Smith, pioneer, faithful Church- man, loyal citizen, and big-hearted friend, applies with force the biblical expression: "There is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel." From the day of his birth, when his people were migrating through force of circumstance to the unbroken valleys of the mountains, to the end of his days, he was a cheerful pioneer and builder. His life was free and open as the plains, his character as staunch as the everlasting hills. In his constant labors for the Church, and in his untiring efforts for the establishment of the gospel of Jesus Christ, through the organizations of the Church, and in the clean, sweet life he lived, he daily and diligently added to his faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. And so he grew and was fruitful in the cause of God upon the earth, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ whose devoted servant he was — a valiant chieftain, a zealous, noble worker for the Cross. He was pre-eminently a lover of mankind, and with cheer and energy devoted his strength to their uplifting, and to the amelioration of the race — for that is the primary purpose of the Church of Christ, in which he was a faithful member and a beloved leader. Through his father, George Albert Smith, and a long line of patriot kinsmen, he inherited a strong love of country, which made him a loyal and upright citizen. He was the embodiment of those great, noble and broad-minded principles that teach men to freely tolerate the views of others, giving to them the right of freedom of conscience, and interfering with no man's religious views or worship; — principles that make men willing to grant liberty gen- erously to all. John Henry loved the constitution and laws of his country, and was loyal to the core. He taught respect for our flag and institutions, and honored our nation's heroes and statesmen. He glorified the dead, and prayed for the living.